‘Love Island USA’ Season 4 on Peacock: Why Iain Stirling was chosen as show's new narrator
NBC Universal revealed in June that Iain Stirling, the well-liked narrator for 'Love Island' UK, will take up responsibilities for Season 4 of the US adaption when it moves from CBS to Peacock. Matthew Hoffman, who has voiced the dating show from its debut in 2019, will be replaced.
Iain has been providing fan-favorite narration for the UK version since its inception. The shift of 'Love Island' USA to Peacock was reported in February. According to sources, the change was made because CBS officials were dissatisfied with the show's ratings. Furthermore, several fans complained about a drop in quality throughout Season 3. As a response, CBS asked for a shortened season. Rather than agreeing to this, the producers sold the dating show around. The biggest bidder was NBC Universal's streaming service. This adjustment looks to have opened the way for many further alterations. Peacock acquired the rights to 'Love Island' from CBS in February and greenlit two seasons. Both will be shot on the California shore.
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On Wednesday, June 15, it was revealed that Iain will take over as narrator. According to ET, this will be his first time doing narration for a version other than the UK original. There will be some overlap because 'Love Island' UK Season 8 is now airing. The press release made it obvious that recruiting the 'Buffering' star to narrate had been a long-term goal. "The moment the decision was made to bring an all-new version of 'Love Island' to Peacock, we knew we had to get Iain on board," Jenny Groom, EVP of Entertainment Unscripted Content at NBCUniversal, added. “Iain embodies everything fans love about the show--humor, irreverence, and cheeky fun. Love Island would not be the same without him.”
While Arielle Vanderberg helmed 'Love Island' USA on CBS, it has not been confirmed or dismissed that she would join Peacock. Iain's wife, Irish podcaster Laura Whitmore, presently hosts the UK original. When Caroline Flack stepped down before Season 6, she personally picked Laura as her replacement. Around the change in narration, ET revealed that this season will take place somewhere along the California coast. This follows the practice of each season in the United States shooting in a new site.
Producers 'revamping' new season
According to reports, producers are "revamping" the series for the next season, which will include "naughtier games and sexier challenges." The Season 4 debut date of 'Love Island' USA claimed that the Peacock relocation would allow it to be "steamier." Peacock's version is likely to have a more British tone and aesthetic, which explains the need to get Iain on board. The show follows a group of single "Islanders" in a tropical villa hoping for romance. The surprise is that competitors must not only pick their partner intelligently but also win the public's hearts. Temptations mount in the villa, and the Islanders must decide whether to stay with their present companion or "recouple" with someone new. Those who are not coupled will be forced to leave the villa throughout the season. Viewers watching at home will also be able to vote on who remains and who departs.
The reaction to the adjustment was largely favorable on social media. It comes after Iain revealed that he is afraid to open his mouth in public since his voice is readily recognized by fans. The television personality claims that his face is not well-known enough for people to know who he is, but when fans hear him speak, they keep requesting him to make voice notes for them. Iain, a former stand-up comedian, claimed he observed it as soon as he began working on 'Love Island' in 2015. "The weird adjustment is not necessarily my face," he explained, "but my voice became well-known."
"I'd go from like having 30 people come to see me do stand-up to like people asking me to do voice notes on the Tube. It was sort of like that overnight thing where you're like, 'This is mad.' There was no slow build as the show got big. It was like the show got big, I came home, I can no longer take a phone call on the train." On the Distraction Pieces podcast, he stated of his voice: "It's the thing that confirms it in people's heads. I'll be on a train sat next to someone and then the minute they go, 'Would you like a drink?' 'Yeah, a coffee please - and the person next to me goes, 'I f****g knew it was you.' If I feel in a bad mood I'll put on a Scouse accent or something."
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Why Iain is irreplaceable
While Matthew's narration has its admirers, most original viewers would insist that Iain was always irreplaceable. Iain, who was already a successful comedian in the UK, gained new followers all over the world as a result of his reality TV appearance. The 34-year-old's narration is a big part of what distinguishes 'Love Island' from other dating shows. His insights and humor, which provide a stark contrast to the solemnity of 'The Bachelor' series, typically trend on Twitter with each new episode. Its spin-offs were not the only series to be impacted by it. Other reality successes, such as 'Too Hot To Handle,' clearly attempted to imitate Iain's snarky commentary, with varied results.
ITV Entertainment, an ITV America division, produces 'Love Island.' ITV Studios and Motion Content Group own the format, and ITV Studios distributes it. 'Love Island' Season 4 premieres on July 19, 2022, at 9/8c on Peacock. All episodes will be exclusively available to stream on Peacock, with new episodes airing from Tuesday-Sunday, and Saturdays featuring recap episodes with unaired footage.